Dozens of victims displaced by a large fire at a housing complex in Chatham will soon have a more stable place to lay their heads down at night.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is reporting it has secured a deal with the new owners of Park Street Place in Dresden to offer temporary housing for up to 50 tenants of 99 McNaughton Avenue West.
The municipality said the time-limited agreement is a temporary solution for those affected by the fire and there are no plans to convert the former retirement residence into a shelter.
"Beginning today, staff are working to relocate impacted tenants and will be offering placements until units are restored," the municipality said in a news release on Friday morning.
Transportation will be arranged for all residents moving to the Dresden site, according to municipal officials.
The municipality also noted it's winding down all hotel placements related to the fire relocation effort.
The municipality reported 35 tenants have been given alternate housing options to date while another 25 tenants have found their own accommodations.
It could be months before residents return to their restored units on McNaughton, according to the municipality.
A fire ripped through the housing complex on August 25.
A woman has been arrested and faces arson charges related to the fire. The search continues for 48-year-old Leonard Greason of Chatham on the same charge of Arson-Disregard for Human Life.